Keanu Reeves Discusses Netflix’s ‘BRZRKR’ Comic Movie, Recalls Anime’s Influence on ‘Matrix’ Role

Keanu Reeves Discusses Netflix’s ‘BRZRKR’ Comic Movie, Recalls Anime’s Influence on ‘Matrix’ Role

Keanu Reeves couldn’t be more excited to get to work on a project involving an 80,000-year-old warrior who has a penchant for stabbing people in the chest.

The star attended a panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday. BRZRKR, a comic book series from Boom! Studios, which he created and co-wrote with Matt Kindt. During the discussion, Reeves explained how the character came about, who was introduced in the first issue in March 2021 and is known for literally destroying his enemies.

“I had this idea: I wanted the character to punch people in the chest and rip their arms off,” Reeves told the crowd. “And the idea of ​​someone who was violently cursed and trying to figure out who they are and how they came to be and somehow regain their humanity.”

The project was previously announced as a Netflix live-action film in development with Reeves in the lead role, along with an accompanying anime series. Unsurprisingly, Reeves was quite practical about it.

Matheson Tomlin (design power), who is currently working on the film’s script, said that Reeves provided feedback on various aspects of the comic that should be included or left out of the film. Tomlin also relayed Reeves’ response after Tomlin described a time when the immortal main character, Berzerker, was touching those around him.

“Keanu stopped me and said, ‘No, he’s not like that with them.'” That’s how they treat it,” Tomlin recalled. “For me, it was a really critical perspective: OK, this is a force of nature, this character. .”

Tomlin said he was influenced on the project not only by Reeves’ previous work, but also by a wide range of films, including antani s The life tree. The screenwriter added, “He can’t die, so what do you do?”

Reeves said working on the comics was “one of the best creative days of my life” and described a lifelong passion for the art form. “I was the kid who came back with bags of comics and it was always a good day,” said the actor. Reeves recalled his excitement the day the first issue came out: “I was like, ‘I’m a bit of an adult and this is the best Christmas I’ve ever had.’

The star also revealed the influence the anime has had on him over the years, from his formative years as a child growing up in Toronto. “I was watching anime on Channel 79 and I didn’t even know what it was,” Reeves said. “And while working with the Wachowskis The matrixThey said, “You have to see this.” Was so akira, A ghost in a shell, and that’s almost the beginning of it all. I’m not really up to date on the current anime. Some friends of mine have kids who can spit anime and I’m like, “This looks amazing.”

The project team kissed a lot more. BRZRKR The final double issue of the series will be released in 2023. Additionally, a Random House representative announced in a pre-recorded video segment that Reeves is working with an as-yet-unrevealed writer on an upcoming novel about the character.

In fact, there are so many possibilities for the character with a never-ending story, and Reeves is excited about where that might take him: “I really want to explore the character and the different times, and that’s really rare.”

Source: Hollywood Reporter

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